Paul’s four-day cycle from London to Paris for cancer charity

24 August 2016

A BALLYGOWAN cyclist will ride from London to Paris next month to raise money for a blood cancer charity.

Paul McLaughlin will cycle 500 kilometres between the two capital cities over four days in aid of Bloodwise, which supports those affected by blood cancer and funds research aimed at beating the disease.

With limited cycling experience before signing up for the challenge, Paul admits he has only been in training since purchasing his first road bike in March.

But he is determined to get as fit as possible before next month and is also keen to raise as much money as possible in the weeks before he sets off with a night at the races arranged at St Mochais GAC Hall in Darragh Cross this Saturday evening.

Urging as many people as possible to attend the event, he said he has also arranged great raffle prizes for the night.

Next month he will then undertake his mammoth cycle, tackling the southern English roads through the Surrey hills towards the south coast to Dover on day one, before ascending from Calais and making his way through hilly northern France to cross the finish line under the l’Arc de Triomphe on day four.

Paul explains that he has chosen Bloodwise because of a family member affected by blood cancer. He said he was inspired by the support offered to similarly affected families.

“I want to play my part in supporting this great charity and fulfilling a personal goal in taking part in an event of this magnitude,” he said.

“In March I purchased my first road bike when I signed up to the challenge and I have on a fairly intense training regime since.

“With my previous cycling experience being the odd mountain biking session in a local park, mainly Castlewellan, this has been a much bigger leap in training to get the legs in optimal shape.”

Anyone who would like to support Paul is asked to do so via his just giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Paul-McLaughlin42

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